Catching canines in unbedded, light covered traps

[CoonDuke]

There was a question in Kermits Corner this month about a set made with two mounds of horse manure.

The set seemed pretty easy to construct. Make two mounds, put the trap between them, put bait in the mounds on the side the trap was on.

I got to thinking this wouldn't be a bad winter set. The mounds would be visible even after a light snow, and I've noticed that fox check out clumps of manure.

Now, if a trap was slapped down between the mounds in a shallow bed (not bedded very solidly) and lightly covered with chaff, hulls, grass it would be pretty easy to construct and stay working longer.

Do you think a set like this has any chance of catching a canine? Just covered enough to break up the outline?

I think in a dirthole situation it would not work very well...but maybe if the fox's attention was not on where he was placing his foot but on the mounds it might work. The mounds would make a walk-through situation too.

Do you think a lightly covered trap is effective in certain situations?

[trappnman]

HorseapplesDuke- yes of course you could catch canines- but don't forget Zags motto "its not the catches, its the misses."

I can't see any real advantage in doing what you want to do. Cut grass would cover the trap- probably good enough for fox from what you all say.

But why not use dirt?

PS- the mounds tight together with a trap in between might collect a lot of snow.

Why not just make the manure pile (stinky stuff- are you Pa trappers that hard up for backings hehehe) as your visual- and make a normal set at the edge of it or nearby?

No doubt about it though- canines are attracted to fresh spread manure- esp from a dairy farm. Farmers often tell me about them following the manure spreader.

I once had a set in the middle of a field that one day was covered with liquid manure. I could see by chance or happenstance that the set itself was uncovered- a 4-5 foot island of bare ground in the middle of a sea of manure. I decided to leave the trap there-

You know it- a few days later had a yote there.

[CoonDuke]

I would expect misses of course. But a trap out there and missing a few is better than a trap not working at all.

The reason I do not want to cover with dirt is because of the weather. Rain showers, snow showers, melting and freezing. Antifreeze does not work at all for me in this situation. Although, waxed dirt may be the be all and end all to my problems when I try some next season.

I really want to have a canine set in my arsenal that does not involve dirt.

Chopping traps out of frozen ground really sucked last season.

I need snares.

[trappnman]

Have you seen JC's snow set as presented on the NTA tape? I think it is exactly what you are looking for.

If its going to freeze- a bare trap will freeze just as quick as a covered one.

I have to go do some projects (YES- I work!) I'll give a brief summary of the set later if you are interested.

[CoonDuke]

Steve,
I have the video. I believe that set needs to be covered with snow to work. But, I wouldn't know why waxed dirt could be put over the saran wrap so the set would work without snow.

Thanks for reminding me about that set!

[Maineman]

Duke: I understand where you're going with this...Last season sucked as far as weather and keeping traps working...I tried the hay set for the first time and liked it...I did have some misses, but I also caught 6 fox that I wouldn't have with covered traps...Also, I learned from the misses and have adjusted the set...

MM

[Wright Brothers]

For lightly covered traps that catch fox I always liked the log over a creek set, and sometimes I find a good log that's not over a creek but provides an easier path. A chopped out bed with 1 1/2 cs on a branch drag or nailed heavy underneath. Crunched up leaves to cover trap that many times blew off. I caught lots of greys and some reds that way. Some will say, just set the approach or make a dirthole, well I do but find those tend to fill up with snow or possums and freeze down a lot while the log set works in most all weather. It's a blind set so I think the fox is not onguard as much. I saw lots of coon caught in uncovered traps but not too many fox. This past season was really something in Pa as far as the weather, what happened to global warming? Got dry dirt? lol
I'd like to read about the snow set.

[Wright Brothers]

MM I've tried setting near round bails and using hay for cover on a #2 and end up with a swivel fouled twisted up empty trap. What are you doing differantly I wonder?

[CoonDuke]

MM,
When you make the hay set, do you chop out any type of bed? How well do you cover the trap? Got any pics of the covered trap??

[Maineman]

polecat said:

This past season was really something in Pa as far as the weather, what happened to global warming? Got dry dirt? lol

You said a mouthful...Even with the dry dirt, the way we got rain during the day then 20 degree temps at night, I'm not sure anything short of trapping "inside" would have helped...

As frustrated as I got last year trying to keep traps working, I kicked around the idea last year of placing some hay bales out with a #3 CS on top (tied off to a heavy drag) and a drop of gland lure...I've seen fox droppings on top of hay bales in the past and know that they like to get up high to look out over a field so I was putting 2 and 2 together...

Maybe next year...

[Maineman]

CoonDuke said:

MM,
When you make the hay set, do you chop out any type of bed? How well do you cover the trap? Got any pics of the covered trap??

I have pictures of the set, then of the set with fox...Give me a little time to get them up...

[Maineman]

CoonDuke said:

MM,
When you make the hay set, do you chop out any type of bed? How well do you cover the trap? Got any pics of the covered trap??

These were taken January 2004 when we were going through that crazy weather...I would have rather had #3's but I'm using two #2 modified, 4-coiled, laminated Bridgers...Laid the traps directly on the ground and staked both traps with a single stake...I works...







You can see the second trap in this picture...





and again in this picture



In the snow is when this set really shined...Stands out like a sore thumb against the white background...Most important thing about this set is place it DIRECTLY on location...

[CoonDuke]

Good pics, MM.

So you don't use any "finer" hay over the trap?? I am amazed the hay doesn't clog up the trap and swivels.

[BrandonH]

Inquiring minds want to know................. Would it work on coyotes??

[Maineman]

CoonDuke said:

Good pics, MM.

So you don't use any "finer" hay over the trap?? I am amazed the hay doesn't clog up the trap and swivels.

While I still use the course hay, One of the Two major modifications that I've made to the set include using a finer hay (sometimes "long" ground duff from the area) directly on the trap and I place a rolled up slice of hay between the 2 traps...On another set I placed a small log between the traps and put a shot of urine on the log...works well as a guide...

[dj88ryr]

ManureDuke,
I tried the manure pile set this past year as a walkthrough type situation, although I did get a couple fox, the set was put out of commision by that other PA nuisence.....GRINNERS!!!! Forgot to save the green stuff for ya. ;D

[CoonDuke]

Maybe they would smell a little better after rolling around in manure for awhile...LOL.

That's one good thing about late season...no grinnys plugging up traps.

[coydog]

Ive used sets similar to the one mainman shows.
They work well on coyotes here especially when the snow starts to fly or if your are getting a lot of wet weather, or just something to try when your getting played by a "trickster" . Havent used them much early, mainly because all the space the straw takes up in the truck.
My parnter had a couple spots he was dealing with some stuck up coyotes late this past season, so he threw out a chaff set and drilled 2 yotes there within the next week.

[Stef]

adkguide, I use a set similar for coyote and fox in wet weather in grass field where flat sets are hard to make and caught my share of coyotes in them and the one I could remember were not only pups ;D

In the fall I just break, let say half a bale and use let say a third of it for a large backing and the rest is spread on ground to make a large pattern and this serve to camouflaged the trap. I lured the backing (under the 1/3 of bale) at 10 with a kind or lure and at 2 with another one.

Well, let me find a picture.

Stef

[Stef]

Walk through effect!